Means for adjusting and securing artificial crowns and teeth in their operative position



ERATIVE POSITION.

, I. s. BRIDGES MEANS FOR ADJUSTING AND SECURING ARTIFICIAL BROWNS AND APPLICATION FILED APR. 8, I9I 1,412,268.

TEETH IN THEIR 0P Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R 191B- 1,412,268. atented Apr. 11, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A 1 I I I .1 V I l 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAH S. BRIDGES, OF WILMETTE, ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR ADJUSTING AND SECURING ARTIFICIAL CROWNS AND TEETH IN THEIR OPERATIVE POSITION.

Application filed April 8,

To all whom it may concern.

' Be it known that I, JosiAH S. BRIDGES, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Wilmette, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Adjusting and Securing Artificial Crowns and Teeth inTheir Operative Position, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to means for adjusting and securing artificial crowns and teeth in their operative position, the crowns for which have heretofore been provided with an axial post hole for a single post, which post hole terminates so near the masticating surface of the tooth for the purposes of sufiicient anchorage for the post, that following the grinding down of that surface for forming the cusps, the separating wall of the crown is so thin that from use it frequently crushes or else results in the splitting of the crown.

The prime object of my invention broadly stated is to provide artificial crowns and teeth with means adapted for materially increasing the thickness of wall between their axial post hole and the masticating surface of a crown and tooth; substantially increasing the strength and their durability, and at the same time removes the difliculty heretofore experienced by dentists, however skilled they may be, in securing a perfect alignment of a crown with the articulating and approximal teeth, and this particularly when because of a malposition of the roots therefor their opposing post holes fail to center, as is uite frequently the case.

More speci cally stated the object of my invention is to provide artificial crowns and teeth, having an axial post hole, with means supplemental thereto, located along the line of the greatest resistance of a crown and tooth for receiving a post in addition to that providedfor by the axial post hole therein, and which isadapted to be detachably and flexiblyconnected with the post, and if need be posts, for a root opposed thereto.

1A further object of my invention is to provide an artificial crown and tooth, having an axial post hole, with another and longer Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

1918. Serial No. 227,167.

post hole at one side of, and in open communication with the axial post hole for a post adapted to be flexibly connected with the post for a root opposed thereto for the adjustment of the crown thereon, to perfect alignment of the crown with articulating and approximal teeth, and whereby the post for the axial post hole may be cast and thereby integrally connected with the supplemental and root posts in their adjusted position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simple and efi'ective means for locating, securing, and maintaining artificial crowns in their operative position, not 1 only upon anterior, but posterior teeth, and which is adapted for removing all of the objections and difficulties resulting from the use of the rigid single post heretofore used for that purpose.

More specifically stated the object of my invention is to have a post connecting an artificial crown with the root of a tooth, provided with a flexible joint, the construction of which enables its use in connection with the roots of both anterior and posterior teeth, in either their natural or malposition, an easy and correct adaptation of the crown to its proper relation with the root, the perfeet alignment of the crown with the articulating and approximal teeth, and which provides for a substantially greater resistance of the crown to pressures from every direction tended to fracture the crown or the root.

With these ends in View my invention finds embodiment in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, by which the said objects and certain other objects are attained, all as hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In said drawings Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective a crown adapted for the purposes of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of the tubular member of the post.

'1ine12 12 of Fig.

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the solid member of the post.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, showing the two members of the post, in posit-ion for making their flexible connection.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of the crown, and a'portion of the root showing the post locked in its adjusted operative position, and in which it is temporarily held by casting wax.

I Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the posts enveloped in cast metal;

Fig, 10 is a side elevation of an artificial crown now commonly used, the dotted line in which indicates the re-enforced gold backing heretofore employed for bridge work.

Fig. 11 is a rear elevation of the crown shown in Fig. 10. I

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken on the 11, showing the ada tation of the crown to, and for the purposes of my invention; the line iii-J3 indicating the slope preferably given to the offset portion of the crown, and

Fig. 13 is a sinnlar view ot a modihca tion thereof, showing the adaptability of my invention for the slope heretofore provided for bridging purposes.

Similar characters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures in the drawings.

In carrying out my invention, an artificial crown 15, having therein a post hole 16, axially located as heretofore, is provided in addition thereto, with another post hole-1'7, located adjacent to, and between the post hole 16, and the front surface 18, of the crown, and forming therewith for the length of the post hole 16, a chamber 19, approximately oval in cross section, extending from the front toward the rear side of the crown.

Post hole 16, however, is substantially shorter in length than heretofore, as will be apparent from the fact (as shown in that the post hole 17. projects beyond. the post hole 16, towards the surface of the crown, and terminates in the plane to which the post hole 16, has before been projected.

in other words, located as the post hole 1'2, is between the post hole 16, and the front snrface of the crown, and thereby with its axis substantially away from the axis of, and on a line of the greatest strength of t 10 crown, for resistingcrushes and lateral strains, provision is thereby made for a thicker wall than has heretofore been possible, between the end of the post hole 16, and the masticat ing surface of a crown, while at the same ti.n1e,'a. perfectly secure anchorage is pro vided for that of a post occupying thepost hole A 17, and in bridge work for missing teethFas shown in Fig-1.2.

For securing the crown so constructed, the

root- 22, enclosed by the gum 23, is provided with a post hole 2 1, preferably formed following the nerve cavity in both the roots of normal, and of malpositioned teeth, for a post member 25, provided with a pin 26, having a head 27, and ada-ptedto be detachably connected with another and postmember 28, for the crown, by means of a loop 29, secured to the post member 28, for forming flexible joint connection, between the sectional members of the post, and thereby providingfor an easy and correct adaptation of the root to thecrown in its proper relation to'the latter, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

Post member 28, .for lightness 'and strength, is preferably tubular in form; en closed at one end as shown in the drawings, for the attachment of the stem of the loop 25 which loop, however, may be formed integral with the post. w i

The loop 29, as shown in tl e drawings is provided with a twist, requiring the posts to be held at an angle with refercnceto each other, as shownv in Fig. 7, for connecting the loop.and pin head 27, so that when the crown post 28, is in its upright operative position, it will be prevented from accidental detachment from the root member 25, of the post. 7 V

In practice, however, it is to be observed that any other form of detachable flexible joint connection between the two posts, which is adapted to produce substantially the same results, will be well within my invention, especially when seemingly I am the first to provide a sectional post, the; sections of which are connected by a flexible joint, as a means for connecting an artificial crown with the root of atooth, or an artificial tooth with a bridge work for supplying missing teeth, as distinguished from. a single rigid post heretofore exclusively purpose.

For securing the crown in its operative position after the surface .of the root has been shaped to conform to the opposing end of the crown, and the member 25, has been remmably inserted in the post hole 24, therefor, the member 28, of. the post is inserted to its operative position in the crown, as indicated'in Fig. 8, and its loop connected in locked engagement with the head 27, of the pin 24}. followed by forcing casting wax between the base of the porcelain crown andathe root, and squeezing thewax into the crown until the space therein, and between the crown, and the root neck is filled.

With the crown thus seated'in the wax, it is very easy for the operating dentist to shift thecrown thereon until it is set in its operative position, and to perfect alignment with the articulating and approximal teeth, and this regardless of whether the post hole in the root centers, or is off center with the used for that axial post hole in the crown, for the reason that the loop 29, adjusts itself on the pin to conform to Whatever position the axis of the one member of the post may have to that of the other, when in their operative positions, respectively in the crown and the root of the tooth. 7

After the crown is located in its operative position as above described, the casting wax is then pressed to form a double flange 30, embracing the inner, and unexposed surfaces of the crown and the root of the tooth; which flange, however, tapers towards, and merges intoa thin edge 31, at the front thereof, with the result that when the wax is replaced with metal, a flange is formed which is adapted to prevent the crown from moving either inwardly, or laterally upon the root, while, at the same time the'least possible amount of metal is exposed at the front of the tooth.

It will now be apparent, that the advantages secured by my invention, as compared with the use of a single rigid post, among other things are; that substantially less time, skill, and labor are required for adjusting an artificial crown to the root, of a malpositioned tooth, than has heretofore been practical or possible ,that my invention provides for securely anchoring a post in the strongest part of the crown, materially re-enforcing the crown along its line of least resistance and removes the heretofore liability from the use of a single rigid post, of the breaking down of the wall between the end of the post, and the masticating surface of a crown, and the splitting of the root and crown, as far as may be; that it avoids the time, care, and difficulty heretofore required before adjusting the crown in its operative position upon the root in perfect alignment with the crown, and for securing a crown in its operative position to the roots of both articulating and approximal teeth; that it enables the production of a casting in its entirety, adapted for easily securing the crown in its operative position, and without any necessity for making alterations in the castings; that my invention furthermore, provides a means by which the roots of every posterior tooth may be successfully provided with an artificial crown, and also for increasing the strength, and durability of a crown used in bridge work; and that it is also adaptable to the form of crowns heretofore commonly used.

Figs. 10 and 11, respectively illustrate, in front and rear elevation, a form of crown in common use, provided with a closed-sided offset 33, enclosing a post hole 34, and an annular seat 35, surrounding the post hole, and vertical shoulders 36, and transverse shoulders 37, extending along and across the offset portion.

Fig. 12, illustrates the adaptation of my invention to the form of crown commonly used for bridging teeth, by providing it with an additional post hole for the sectional member 28, and using a comparatively short post 32, connected with and inserted into the post hole 16, with the insertion of the member 28, and for which purpose the connection between the members 28, and 32, may be made with the flexible connection before described, but my invention includes a rigid connection between the two members consisting of a bent wire, or staple, for with the use of any of these forms of connection, the advantages promoting strength and durability of an artificial tooth in bridge work as well as in crown work is still retained and present.

V'Vith the post members so located the procedure with bridge teeth is the same as used for an artificial crown, except that it is provided with a backing 38.

There is, however, a further advantage attributable to my invention in the construction of bridge work, in that it enables the use of the soldering process, by first covering the back of the tooth with metal foil, and after projecting both members of the post to their seated position shown in Fig. 12, then backing the same with wax, then bodily removing both members of the post with the wax, then investing the same; followed by removing the wax and then soldering, as any skilled dentist will understand, bearing in mind that the foil serves to hold the posts in their proper relationship and adjustment for soldering purposes.

My invention, by the use of a two-part post, not only provides for strengthening the artificial tooth, but for giving it the slope indicated by the line AB, in Fig. 13, and which is desirable in many instances for sanitary purposes, in that it provides for a sanitary self cleansing space, and prevents all possible irritation to the mucous membrane of the gum.

The crown shown in Fig. 13 serves to indicate the shortness of the axial post hole for my invention as compared with the corresponding post hole heretofore used, and to emphasize the advantages before described due to the location and greater length of the post hole 17 in Fig. 13.

Having described my invention what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A post for roots and artificial crowns consisting of two members provided with a detachable universal joint connecting said members.

2. A post for an artificial crown and root consisting of two members, one for the root and the other for the crown, and an articulate adjustable joint for connecting said members.

3. An artificial crown having a hole at one side of its axis and a post consisting of two members, one of which members is adapted to be projected in a hole formed with and followingthe nerve cavity of a root and the other members into the hole at one side of the axis of the crown, and means for detachably connecting said members in their adjusted operative position.

l. .i-L post for an artificial crown and root consisting of two members provided with a detachable link joint connecting their adjaeent ends.

5. A post for an artificial crown and root consisting of two detachable flexibly connected members one of which is adapted to occupy the nerve cavity of the tooth root in the path of an axial post hole in the crown and the other member, and another posthole in the crown located at one side 01' the axis thereof.

p 6. A post for an artificial crown and root consisting of two members the opposite ends of which are respectively provided with a loop and with a headed pin adapted to form an adjustable connection for and between said members.

7. A post for an artificial crown and root consisting of two members one for the root provided with a headed pin and the other for a crown provided with a loop twisted upon itself, for detachably locking said two members in theiroperative position against accidental detachment.

8. A casting for an artificial crown conand another post the axis of which is parallel to and is adapted to be projected into the crown in a plane substantially beyond the end of said first mentioned post hole.

'9. An artificial crown provided with an axial post hole and another post hole parallel therewith and of greater length than said axial post hole.

10. An artificial crown provided with an axially located post hole and with another post hole at one side of and in open communication with said first named post hole.

11. An artificial crown provided with two post holes one of which surrounds the axis of the crown and another post hole located parallel with and beyond said first nai ed post hole.

12. An artificial crown provided with a post hole surrounding the axis thereof, and another postvhole parallel therewith, projecting inwardly beyond the axial post hole and in open communication with andi'or the entire length of the axial post hole.

In witness whereof, I'have hereunto set my hand and afiixed my seal this 3rd day of April A. D. 1918.

JOSIAH S. BRIDGES. [L. s] 

